Outlook

South American heroin will remain one of the most significant drug threats to Maine. Treatment data indicate that heroin abuse is a serious problem, and there are no indications that abuse levels will decrease in the near future. As law enforcement efforts to reduce pharmaceutical diversion decrease the availability and increase the price of those drugs, the threat posed by heroin will likely increase. Caucasian criminal groups, local independent dealers, and abusers will remain the primary transporters and distributors of heroin in Maine because of their established connections with Dominican sources of supply in Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts.

Diverted pharmaceuticals will remain a serious drug threat to Maine in the near term. However, the threat could decrease as law enforcement and legislative efforts to reduce the availability and abuse of diverted pharmaceuticals become more effective. This may prompt more pharmaceutical opiate abusers to switch to heroin.

Cocaine will remain a serious drug threat to Maine. Availability likely will continue to increase in rural areas of the state. Caucasian and Dominican criminal groups and Caucasian local independent dealers will remain the primary transporters of powdered cocaine into Maine. Caucasian criminal groups and local independent dealers will remain the primary retail-level distributors of powdered cocaine in the state. OMGs also will continue their cocaine transportation and distribution activities. The influence of New York- and Massachusetts-based Dominican criminal groups in crack distribution likely will increase as these groups expand their distribution networks within the state.

Marijuana will remain the most commonly available and widely abused illicit drug in Maine. Marijuana produced in Mexico will remain the most prevalent type available; however, significant quantities of Canada-produced marijuana and locally produced marijuana also will remain available. Caucasian criminal groups, local independent dealers, and OMGs will remain the primary marijuana transporters and distributors in the state.

MDMA will continue to be the most widely distributed and abused ODD in Maine. The availability and abuse of LSD in Maine will remain limited. Khat availability and abuse likely will increase in correlation with the increasing number of Somali refugees relocating to the state.

Methamphetamine will continue to pose a low drug threat to Maine. Production, distribution, and abuse of the drug have remained low for several years, and there are no indications that this will change.

To Top      To Contents     To Previous Page     To Sources

To Publications Page     To Home Page